Study: In Minnesota, Women Earn 80 Cents To Men's Dollar

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A policy group tracking wages said that women still lag behind men when it comes to salaries, though Minnesota's disparity is not as pronounced as the country's at large.

The Institute for Women's Policy Research said women working full-time earn about 78 cents to every dollar men make.

In Minnesota, women make about 80 cents against men's dollar.

The institute predicted it will take 43 years until men and women are paid the same across the U.S., and projected Florida will be the first to close the gap in 2038. Minnesota would reach parity in 2054, the institute said.

The last state expected to reach pay equality would be Wyoming, 144 years from now.

Analysts said there are a few reasons why it's taking so long.

"Many women populate low-paying fields," CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger said. "Women are not entering the fastest-growing fields, STEM, in great enough numbers."

In his State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama said the U.S. Congress needs to pass a law to make sure men and women are paid equally for doing the same work.